Protection system for avoiding obstacles in roadside ditches

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to a protection system for avoiding obstacles in roadside ditches that comprises: some beams deployed over the ditch, with an end on the base of the ditch and the other at a height equal to or greater to that of the ditch, on which the separating structure is fixed to the base of the ditch and separated from the beams. Said beams are supported over the separating structure by an end fixed in the ditch.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a protection system for avoiding obstacles in roadside ditches where obstacles are commonplace, for example, the culverts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many accidents that occur on the highway are due to cars that go off the road. Leaving the road may involve the car crashing against elements found in the ditches.

A commonly found element in roadside ditches are the culverts, which can be defined as works meant to provide access for vehicles from the road to the adjacent plots or to paths that meet the road while maintaining the continuity of the ditch.

These culverts consist in a series of elements that basically comprise a tubular structure formed by several tubes or similar, with their ends finishing in masonry and concrete structures.

When a vehicle leaves the road near a culvert it will crash against the front wall of the culvert.

There are elements made to avoid these crashes by enabling the car to overcome the obstacle of the culvert.

For example, utility model publication ES1054682 describes a perfected culvert crossing that has reinforcements on the front wall, from which an inclined grill sticks out. In this case the inclined grill that will enable the car to avoid crashing against the culvert is supported on the front wall of the crossing. In this utility model the grill is a single piece, and in the event it is necessary to clean the culvert the whole grill piece must be moved.

Utility model published as no. ES2222109 describes a culvert mechanism that consists in the manufacturing of a mouthpiece of reinforced concrete and compressed with two flaps to avoid the unevenness of the culvert, a bar as a guardrail and a culvert grill. In this case the grill is also a single piece that must be completely removed when cleaning tasks are necessary.

In view of the state of the art, it may be concluded that it would be very useful to have a protection system for avoiding obstacles in the roadside ditch that is comprised of elements that can be easily removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is established and characterized in the independent claims, whereas the dependent claims describe other features of the same.

In the present invention a protection system is disclosed for avoiding obstacles in the roadside ditches, such as culvert crossings, that is, the works carried out for the purpose of maintaining the continuity of the ditch, or enabling access for vehicles to the road from adjacent plots or paths that meet the road.

The system facilitates moving the different elements that comprise it as it is made up of pieces. This fact provides versatility to the invention when it is installed in any culvert shape and on any surface.

The system is equipped with beams that are arranged in way that creates a surface, not necessarily continuous, from the base of the culvert to the top part of the obstacle to be saved, and that covers the width of the culvert. The surface that is created with the beams guarantees the obstacle can be crossed by a vehicle without causing serious injury to the occupants of the same.

The beams are positioned in relation to each other by a separating structure that is fixed to the base of the culvert.

Culvert is understood to be the surface that defines the space located on one or both sides of a path or road, designed for surface collection and drainage of the road and its surroundings. This surface can have different shapes, being wider or narrower, with side walls having a steep incline or shallower incline.

Therefore, in light of the above, the present invention refers to a protection system for avoiding obstacles in roadside ditches that comprises: some beams deployed over the ditch, with an end on the base of the ditch and the other at a height equal to or greater to that of the ditch, on which the separating structure is fixed to the base of the ditch and separated from the beams; said beams being supported over the separating structure by an end fixed in the ditch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present document is supplemented with a set of illustrative figures of the preferred embodiment, but which in no way limit the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the system of the invention in which the separating structure has the shape of a comb and is made up of different separating modules.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of FIG. 1 in which the support means are embodied in opposing posts and the beams display an anchoring element for their insertion in the ground.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an embodiment in which the separating structure has the shape of a comb and is made up of different modules, and the supporting means are a pair of blocks facing each other.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment in which the beams and the separating structure are installed in at an oblique manner with respect of the ditch.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the system of the invention in which the separating structure displays a structural element and separating elements.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of FIG. 5 in which are visible a structural element made up of structural modules, the anchoring element of the beams, and the support means, said means comprising two posts at the edges of the ditch.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the system of the invention in which the separating structure has a structural element on a single piece directly supported on the ditch, and separating elements.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view in which the beams are placed transversally to the longitudinal axis of the ditch.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment in which the separating structure displays a comb shape and that is made up of different modules, and the support means are a central fixing system which in turn comprises a leg that rests on the inside of a drainage conduit of the ditch which shows a continuation of two branches forming a V shape over which two small boxes are set.

FIG. 10 shows and exploded view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the system of the invention in which the separating structure is fixed to structural elements of the culvert cross over.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, the present invention refers to a system for avoiding obstacles in roadway drainage ditches (2) which comprises some beams (4) arranged over the ditch, with one end in the base of the ditch and the other at an equal or greater height with respect of the same; on which a separating structure (3) that is fixed to the ditch enables the separation of the beams (4); said beams (4) being supported over the separating structure (3) and with one end fixed in the ditch (2).

In a particular embodiment the separating structure (3) has a comb shape having notches (3.2) on the top part for lodging the beams.

In a more particular embodiment, the separating structure having a comb shape (3) has on the top part of the notch (3.2) a bar (3.3) for restricting the movement of beams (4).

In particular, the separating structure having a comb shape (3) is made up of different separating modules (3.1) joined together.

The joining of the different separating modules having a comb shape (3.1) is done by means of connecting sleeves (3.5) that are inserted at their ends to other separating modules having a comb shape (3.1). Separating modules having a comb shape (3.1) have recesses on the bottom corners (3.1.1) from which emerge some protrusions for inserting connecting sleeves (3.4).

In a second particular embodiment, separating structure (3) is embodied as structural element (3.5), on which rest some separating elements (3.6). Preferably, the structural element (3.5) is formed by the joining of structural modules (3.5.1). In particular, the separating elements (3.6) have a bottom recess (3.6.1) and the structural modules (3.5.1) have recesses (3.5.1.1) facing each other at the ends, from which emerge some protrusions (3.5.1.2) for inserting some connecting sleeves (3.4).

In particular, the structural element (3.5) has a section formed by a bottom horizontal side, two vertical sides that emerge from the ends of the bottom side and a convex top side that is joined to both vertical sides.

The different separating elements (3.6) have rods (3.7) that are inserted into the top part of the side faces of the separating elements (3.6). To fix the separating elements (3.6) to the assembly of separation structure (3) rods (3.8) are inserted in a position transversal to the structural element (3.5), which traverses the front and back faces of the separating element (3.6).

The separating element may be fixed directly to the ditch or fixed by means of some support means (1).

In a particular embodiment, the support means (1) are embodied as two small boxes (1.4).

In another particular embodiment the support means (1) comprises two posts (1.1) placed on the edges of the ditch. As the support means (1) consist in independent pieces, they can be nestled in the ditch independently of the shape of said ditch and the distance between its edges. It is possible that the support means (1), in addition to the two posts (1.1), comprise intermediate posts (1.2) to help the support. Likewise, there may be a central fastening system (1.3), which, in turn, comprises a leg (not shown) that sits inside the drainage conduit (5), which is continued by two branches (1.3.1) having a V shape, and on which rest some small boxes (1.3.2). In a particular embodiment, the boxes (1.3.2) have a U shaped cross-section.

In an embodiment of the protection system of the invention, the beams (4) are fixed by the bottom end to the base of the ditch (3) by means of an anchoring element (4.1) inserted into the ground. Preferably, the anchoring element (4.1) is located embedded in the beam (4) itself. 

1. A protection system for avoiding obstacles in roadway drainage ditches which includes a plurality of beams arranged over the ditch, with one end in the base of the ditch and the other end at an equal or greater height with respect of the same, comprising a separating structure being fixed to the ditch enabling the separation of the beams, where said beams rest on the separating structure with one end fixed in the ditch.
 2. Protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the separating structure has the shape of a comb and has on an upper part notches for lodging the beams.
 3. Protection system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the separating structure has on the upper part of the notches a bar, respectively, for restricting the movement of the beams.
 4. Protection system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the separating structure having a comb shape is made up of different separating modules joined together.
 5. Protection system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the separating modules have recesses internally disposed on bottom corners from which emerge a protrusion for inserting connecting sleeves thereto.
 6. Protection system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of separating element wherein the separating structure comprises structural element on which the plurality of separating elements rest thereon.
 7. Protection system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the structural element is formed by the joining of structural modules.
 8. Protection system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the separating elements have a bottom recess and the structural modules have facing recesses at the ends, from which emerge protrusions respectively for inserting some connecting sleeves.
 9. Protection system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the different separating elements have rods that are inserted in the top part of the lateral faces of separating elements, and in order to fix the separating elements to the assembly of the separation structure rods are inserted in a transversal position to structural element, which traverse the front and back faces of the separating element.
 10. Protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the separating structure is supported above the ditch by means of a support means.
 11. Protection system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the support means comprise two posts placed at the edges of the ditch.
 12. Protection system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the support means comprise intermediate posts disposed between the two posts.
 13. Protection system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the support means further comprises a central fastening system, which, in turn, comprises a leg that sits inside the drainage conduit, which is continued by two branches having a V shape, and on which rest small boxes.
 14. Protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the beams are fixed by the bottom end to the base of the ditch by means of an anchoring element inserted in the ground.
 15. Protection system in accordance with claim 14, wherein anchoring element is embedded in the beam itself.
 16. Protection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the separating structure is fixed to structural elements of a culvert crossing associated with the roadway drainage ditch. 